Fruit stemmer

ABSTRACT

Intermeshing, helical formations on a plurality of parallel rollers, driven in opposite rotational directions, grip the stems of fruit in contact therewith and detach the stems while conveying the fruit toward the delivery ends of the rollers. The rollers are supported at the delivery ends by space bearings between which debris passes.

[ 1 3,747,514 [451 July 24,1973

United States I Patent 1 Ireland FRUIT STEMMER Primary Examiner-WillieG. Abercrombie t t l [75] Inventor Fredemkp lrelandsay on GregAttorney-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey Stayton Canning Company J acobson[73] Assignee:

Cooperative, Stayton, Oreg.

Sept. 14, 1971 Appl. No.: 180,388

[22] Filed:

Intermeshing, helical formations on a plurality of parallel rollers,driven in opposite rotational directions, grip 52 us. Cl. the Stemsfruit in Contact therewith and detach the stems while conveying thefruit toward the delivery ends of the rollers. The rollers are supportedat the delivery ends by space bearings between which debris passes.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 Claims, 6 Drawing FiguresA i ll i u n sum 1 OF 2 Fig./

PATENTED JUL 24 I973 FRUIT STEMMER This invention relates to apparatusfor processing ovate objects, such as fruit and vegetables, and moreparticularly to apparatus for destemming fruits and vegetables.

In the handling of crops, such as fruits and vegetables on a largescale, it is desirable to have efficient means to detach stems or vines.Although various machines have been devised for handling harvested cropsof the type with which the present invention is concerned, they arerelatively complex and serve only on an optional basis to destem thecrop. Thus, such prior machines have not been particularly efficientwith respect to the crop destemming function. It is, therefore, animportant object of the present invention to provide apparatus primarilydesigned to remove attached material from harvested crops as well as toconvey or feed the crop while being operated on.

In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of rubber rollershaving helical or spiral formations, are.

mounted for rotation in opposite directions about parallel spaced axis.The helical formations intermesh so as to support the fruit orvegetables thereabove and feed them longitudinally along the axes of therollers toward a delivery end without assistance from other conveyingfacilities. At the same time, the intermeshing helical formations gripsolid matter attached to the fruit or vegetables, such as the stems orvines, and draw them downwardly for detachment, together with any otherforeign material capable of being drawn between the pliable materialfrom which the rollers are made. The intermeshing helical formationsterminate in spaced relation to the delivery ends of the rollers atwhich locations the rollers are rotationally supported by spacedbearings. The clearance between the spaced bearings is such as to permitthe passing of debris too large to be drawn through the rollers,although spaced close enough to prevent the fruit and vegetables fromdropping therebetween. Thus, the destemmed fruit and vegetables aredischarged from the delivery ends of the rollers.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial top plan view of a detaching machine constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG.2 is a partial end view of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view taken substantially through a planeindicated by section line 3-3 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partial top sectional view taken substantially through aplane indicated by section line 4-4 in FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial transverse sectional view takensubstantially through a plane indicated by section line 5-5 in FIG. 1;and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial transverse sectional view takensubstantially through a plane indicated by section line 6-6 in FIG. I.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the fruit and vegetabledetaching device of the present invention is generally referred to byreference numeral 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The machine includes a suitableframe generally referred to by reference numeral 12 supporting aplurality of horizontal sections 14, the number of sections dependingupon the quantity of crop being handled. An electric drive motor 16 isfixedly mounted adjacent one of the sections 14 for powering the machineby means of a drive arrangement underlying an infeed platform 18 whichextends across and interconnects all of the sections 14. Also associatedwith all of the sections of the machine is a delivery conveyor belt 20onto which the processed fruit or vegetables are deposited. The fruit orvegetables are loaded onto the machine at the infeed platform 18 betweenside fences 22 and 24 which are disposed at an angle for confining thefruit and vegetables to the particular section through which they arefed.

Each section of the machine includes a plurality of rollers 26 disposedin parallel spaced relation as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Each roller 26,as more clearly seen in FIG. 3, includes a drive shaft end 28 extendingthrough a journal support 30 underlying the infeed platform 18. Thedelivery end shaft portion 32 is supported by one of a plurality ofspaced sleeve bearings 34. Thus, the bearings 30 and 34 at the infeedand delivery ends of each section vwill rotationally mount the rollersabout parallel spaced axes. Each roller furthermore includes alongitudinal body 36, as more clearly seen in FIG. 5, made of a pliablematerial, such as rubber, mounted on a central drive shaft 38. A helicalor spiral formation 40 is formed on the roller body. The helicalformations 40 on adjacent rollers are oppositely wound and out of phasewith. each other so as to intermesh, with the spacing between therollers being such that the spiral formation on one roller contacts aroller body on an adjacent roller, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rollers are drivingly interconnected witheach other through meshing gears 42 secured to the drive ends 28 of theroller shafts. Accordingly, the rollers-are rotated in oppositedirections. Further, alternate drive shaft ends 28 are extended axiallybeyond the gears 42 and have affixed thereto sprocket gears 44. Thesprocket gears mesh with an endless sprocket chain 46 with which thedrive motor V is drivingly engaged by means of a drive sprocket 48.

As hereinbefore indicated, the rollers 26 are driven in oppositerotational directions as shown by the arrows 50 in FIG. 5. In view ofthe intermeshing relationship between the adjacent rollers, fruit orvegetables, such as thecherries 52 are supported on the tops of therollers and are fed longitudinally along the rollers from the infeed endto the delivery end by the helical formations 40. Thus, the axial widthof each helical formation is substantially equal to one-half its helicalpitch as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 so that the formations 40 intermeshwithout axial clearance to thereby continuously convey the cherriestoward the delivery end. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the stems 54 aregripped between adjacent rollers and drawn downwardly for detaching thesame while the cherries are fed along the rollers. Accordingly,destemmed cherries, as shown in FIG. 6, arrive at the delivery end ofthe rollers and pass over the spaced sleeve bearings 34 onto thedelivery conveyor belt 20.

The clearance or spacing between the bearings 34 is such as to continuesupporting the cherries 52 above the rollers but are wide enough topermit the gravitational separation or passing of solid debris 56therebetween, as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, solid debris incapable of beingdrawn between the roller bodies 36 will drop between the space bearings.It will be furthermore apparent that the rubber material of the rollerbodies will compress sufficiently to grip the stems 54 therebetween andwill also feed the cherries therealong without damage thereto. Thus, themachine is capable of separating vines or stems from ovate objects andat the same time provide an automatic feed system. The rotational speedof the intermeshing rollers will, of course, determine the capacity ofthe machine.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention, Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescried, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents maybe resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for separating solid matter from a dimensionally largerobject to which the solid matter is attached comprising at least twolongitudinal rollers having infeed and delivery ends, means mounting therollers in spaced relation for rotation about fixed axes, helicalgripping elements mounted on said rollers in meshing engagement witheach other, and means for imparting rotation to said rollers in oppositedirections to detach the solid matter from the object, the object beingconveyed along the axes of the rollers toward the delivery ends becauseof said meshing engagement between the helical gripping elements.

2. Apparatus for separating solid matter from a dimensionally largerobject to which the solid matter is attached comprising at least twolongidutinal rollers, means mounting the rollers in spaced relation forrotation about fixed axes, helical gripping elements mounted on saidrollers in meshing engagement with each other, and means for impartingrotation to said rollers in opposite directons to detach the solidmatter from the object while conveying the object along the axes of therollers, said rotation imparting means being drivingly connected to therollers at an infeed end, said roller mounting means including spacedbearing elements supporting the rollers at a delivery end opposite theinfeed end, the spacing between the bearing elements being dimensionallyless than the object to permit gravitational separation of loose debris.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein ssaid helical gripping elementsare made of a pliable material compressed by the solid matter drawndownwardly therebetween.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said solid matter is a stem of afruit constituting the object.

5. Apparatus for detaching stems from ovate fruit comprising a pluralityof rollers having infeed and delivery ends, a frame rotationablymounting the rollers about parallel spaced axes, pliable means mountedby the rollers in intermeshing relationship to each other for supportingthe fruit above the rollers, and drive means imparting rotation to therollers in opposite directions for gripping the stems between thepliable means to draw the same downwardly and conveying the fruitparallel to said axes toward said delivery ends.

6. Apparatus for detaching stems from ovate fruit comprising a pluralityof rollers, a frame rotationably mounting the rollers about parallelspaced axes, pliable means mounted by the rollers in intermeshingrelationship to each other for supporting the fruit above the rollers,drive means imparting rotation to the rollers in opposite directions forgripping the stems between the pliable means and drawing the samedownwardly, and spaced bearing elements supporting the rollers at saiddelivery end, the clearance between the bearing elements beingdimensionally less than the fruit to permit gravitational separation ofloose debris from the destemmed fruit.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said pliable means compriseshelical elements conveying the fruit along the axes of the rollers froman infeed end to a delivery end in response to rotation of the rollers.

8. Apparatus for separating solid matter from a dimensionally largerobject to which the solid matter is attached comprising at least twolongitudinal rollers, means mounting the rollers in spaced relation forrotation about fixed axes, helical gripping elements mounted on saidrollers in meshing engagement with each other, and means for impartingrotation to said rollers in opposite directions to detach the solidmatter from the object, the object being conveyed along the axes of therollers because of said meshing engagement substantially without anyaxial clearance along the roll-

1. Apparatus for separating solid matter from a dimensionally largerobject to which the solid matter is attached comprising at least twolongitudinal rollers having infeed and delivery ends, means mounting therollers in spaced relation for rotation about fixed axes, helicalgripping elements mounted on said rollers in meshing engagement witheach other, and means for imparting rotation to said rollers in oppositedirections to detach the solid matter from the object, the object beingconveyed along the axes of the rollers toward the delivery ends becauseof said meshing engagement between the helical gripping elements. 2.Apparatus for separating solid matter from a dimensionally larger objectto which the solid matter is attached comprising at least twolongidutinal rollers, means mounting the rollers in spaced relation forrotation about fixed axes, helical gripping elements mounted on saidrollers in meshing engagement with each other, and means for impartingrotation to said rollers in opposite directons to detach the solidmatter from the object while conveying the object along the axes of therollers, said rotation imparting means being drivingly connected to therollers at an infeed end, said roller mounting means including spacedbearing elements supporting the rollers at a delivery end opposite theinfeed end, the spacing between the bearing elements being dimensionallyless than the object to permit gravitational separation of loose debris.3. The combination of claim 2 wherein ssaid helical gripping elementsare made of a pliable material compressed by the solid matter drawndownwardly therebetween.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein saidsolid matter is a stem of a fruit constituting the object.
 5. Apparatusfor detaching stems from ovate fruit comprising a plurality of rollershaving infeed and delivery ends, a frame rotationably mounting therollers about parallel spaced axes, pliable means mounted by the rollersin intermeshing relationship to each other for supporting the fruitabove the rollers, and drive means imparting rotation to the rollers inopposite directions for gripping the stems between the pliable means todraw the same downwardly and conveying the fruit parallel to said axestoward said delivery ends.
 6. Apparatus for detaching stems from ovatefruit comprising a plurality of rollers, a frame rotationably mountingthe rollers about parallel spaced axes, pliable means mounted by therollers in intermeshing relationship to each other for supporting thefruit above the rollers, drive means imparting rotation to the rollersin opposite directions for gripping the stems between the pliable meansand drawing the same downwardly, and spaced bearing elements supportingthe rollers at said delivery end, the clearance between the bearingelements being dimensionally less than the fruit to permit gravitationalseparation of loose debris from the destemmed fruit.
 7. The combinationof claim 6 wherein said pliable means comprises helical elementsconveying the fruit along the axes of the rollers from an infeed end toa delivery end in response to rotation of the rollers.
 8. Apparatus forseparating solid matter from a dimensionally larger object to which thesolid matter is attached comprising at least two longitudinal rollers,means mounting the rollers in spaced relation for rotation about fixedaxes, helical gripping elEments mounted on said rollers in meshingengagement with each other, and means for imparting rotation to saidrollers in opposite directions to detach the solid matter from theobject, the object being conveyed along the axes of the rollers becauseof said meshing engagement substantially without any axial clearancealong the rollers.